Golf Cart Tune Up

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Old 01-15-2025, 04:27 PM
Scbang Scbang is offline
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Default Golf Cart Tune Up

We had this discussion but the business changes, owners change. So here we go again. I used to go with Willie's and Casey's for my cart annual tune up which used to cost around &90-$100. I am sure they are still good but the cost and ownership may have changed. If you recently tuned up your cart at your house, who did you use, how much was simple tune up ( Mine is Yamaha 2014 ) and are you happy with the result?

Cheers!
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Old 01-15-2025, 06:10 PM
ThirdOfFive ThirdOfFive is offline
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Originally Posted by Scbang View Post
We had this discussion but the business changes, owners change. So here we go again. I used to go with Willie's and Casey's for my cart annual tune up which used to cost around &90-$100. I am sure they are still good but the cost and ownership may have changed. If you recently tuned up your cart at your house, who did you use, how much was simple tune up ( Mine is Yamaha 2014 ) and are you happy with the result?

Cheers!
I use Todd Casey. He comes to the house and does all work onsite: My last service about 8 months back cost $117.00 for oil change, complete check and spark plug. He also replaced a battery for me in August for $195 total (battery, installation and service call).

Very pleased with what he charges and the quality of his work.
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Old 01-15-2025, 10:21 PM
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Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
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Originally Posted by Scbang View Post
We had this discussion but the business changes, owners change. So here we go again. I used to go with Willie's and Casey's for my cart annual tune up which used to cost around &90-$100. I am sure they are still good but the cost and ownership may have changed. If you recently tuned up your cart at your house, who did you use, how much was simple tune up ( Mine is Yamaha 2014 ) and are you happy with the result?

Cheers!
Simple tune up kit.

Amazon.com

Buy quart of oil for 7 bucks. Yamaha EFI carts run pretty clean compared to older carburetor carts so spark plug last lot longer.

OK, that’s bare minimum on tune up and price. Naturally if you have to pay someone to come and do it which will include some safety checks anything close to 100 bucks is deal IMO. I do it cause I can still and cuts down boredom for me.

tune up plus and safety check may include inspection of: tires, drive belt, starter/generator belt, inspect Clean of primary clutch and one pump grease, inspect/grease secondary clutch, load test battery, check tires for wear/damage, rotate tires,
And probably change rear transaxle gear oil if older than 4 years? All that going to double Or more 100 plus simple tune up charge due to time and cost of gear oil which it takes 1 7/8s quarts. ( mine anyway).

When I do it I also clean engine bay, transaxle, frame, and gas pedal and brake cavity. Fine sand induced wear lot quicker if left dirty around moving parts. My cart 12 years old and still looks new other than normal wear and tear. I also change oil every 6 months just before summer and just before what Florida calls winter. My cart will probably outlast me?
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Old 01-16-2025, 09:20 AM
MrFlorida MrFlorida is offline
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The last time I used Willie's, the guy was here for about 10 minutes, changed the oil, spark plug, left old air filter..... charged 100 bucks for 10 minutes..... never again.... I do it myself now.
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Old 01-18-2025, 04:52 PM
KennyP KennyP is offline
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Its funny this topic should come up. Just a couple of months ago the question was asked among a few of the top guys you hear about all the time " whats the percentage of golf cars in the villages is improperly serviced"? This is just the service part, nothing else.

Understand, we all see who is good, who is bad, which customers are trying other shops, etc.....

Not to make all of your heads spin, but the consensus was between 75-to 90 percent. Yeah quite a big number.

The crazy thing is we all hear what has been posted here and elsewhere all the time. I think i have said this before here, there is more to a service than just changing the oil and putting air in the tires. A good trained golf car tech is looking at the problem areas of the particular model of car being worked on. Every golf car has problem areas, the issue becomes the tech looking at your car may not even know it, or even care. A failure down the road is money in their pocket and the consumer will never know.

Anyway, just adding some insider info everyone have a great weekend.
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Old 01-18-2025, 10:55 PM
Scbang Scbang is offline
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Originally Posted by KennyP View Post
Its funny this topic should come up. Just a couple of months ago the question was asked among a few of the top guys you hear about all the time " whats the percentage of golf cars in the villages is improperly serviced"? This is just the service part, nothing else.

Understand, we all see who is good, who is bad, which customers are trying other shops, etc.....

Not to make all of your heads spin, but the consensus was between 75-to 90 percent. Yeah quite a big number.

The crazy thing is we all hear what has been posted here and elsewhere all the time. I think i have said this before here, there is more to a service than just changing the oil and putting air in the tires. A good trained golf car tech is looking at the problem areas of the particular model of car being worked on. Every golf car has problem areas, the issue becomes the tech looking at your car may not even know it, or even care. A failure down the road is money in their pocket and the consumer will never know.

Anyway, just adding some insider info everyone have a great weekend.
So, do you have a name I can trust with my cart to be serviced?

Cheers!
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Old 01-19-2025, 09:36 AM
KennyP KennyP is offline
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Originally Posted by Scbang View Post
So, do you have a name I can trust with my cart to be serviced?

Cheers!
Everyone has their favorite....I'm not going to say good or bad, and I'm not out to say someone's shop is better than another. I'm here more to give insider input, know what to beware of and if I help someone not get ripped off, which happens ALOT, then I did my part.
In the villages, you can get someone who is trained in golf car repair, all the way to "should never touch a golf car" Both have work every day.
Sorry I can't be of more help on that question.
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Old 01-19-2025, 09:49 AM
biker1 biker1 is offline
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Same here. There is maintenance and repairs. The maintenance is easy, the repairs might not be. Fortunately, there is a good probability that your cart will go a long ways without needing any repairs. My 2014 Yamaha is over 10 years old and has been trouble free. Here is my maintenance schedule:

50 hours: change oil
500 hours: change rear differential fluid
1000 hours: change spark plug and air filters
500 hours: rotate tires
200 hours: lube both clutches
200 hours: check free play in brake cable, check drive belt width, check starter/generator belt, check toe-in and adjust as necessary, look over the cart, etc.
monthly: check tire pressure
batteries last about 5 years, best to preemptively change them before they fail



Quote:
Originally Posted by MrFlorida View Post
The last time I used Willie's, the guy was here for about 10 minutes, changed the oil, spark plug, left old air filter..... charged 100 bucks for 10 minutes..... never again.... I do it myself now.

Last edited by biker1; 01-19-2025 at 09:55 AM.
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Old 01-19-2025, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by biker1 View Post
Same here. There is maintenance and repairs. The maintenance is easy, the repairs might not be. Fortunately, there is a good probability that your cart will go a long ways without needing any repairs. My 2014 Yamaha is over 10 years old and has been trouble free. Here is my maintenance schedule:

50 hours: change oil
500 hours: change rear differential fluid
1000 hours: change spark plug and air filters
500 hours: rotate tires
200 hours: lube both clutches
200 hours: check free play in brake cable, check drive belt width, check starter/generator belt, check toe-in and adjust as necessary, look over the cart, etc.
monthly: check tire pressure
batteries last about 5 years, best to preemptively change them before they fail
Good if have hour meter?

I do preventative maintenance so I do little repairs. But can’t do nothing about poorly designed parts that fail prematurely.
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Old 01-19-2025, 09:37 PM
Scbang Scbang is offline
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Originally Posted by Topspinmo View Post
Good if have hour meter?

I do preventative maintenance so I do little repairs. But can’t do nothing about poorly designed parts that fail prematurely.
I get your points ( re: 3 previous posts ) but other than tire pressure, I am not sure I can do things listed. And, as far as I can recall, the basic tune up guys did just oil, filter and plug without suggesting anything else that needs attention. I guess it's my luck to have running 2014 Yamaha without needing any of those services. So I really need someone who is qualified to thoroughly check my OLD cart before it dies on me. It started to make high pitch squeaky noise when I accelerate, and I have no idea which belt is doing that.

Cheers!

Cheers!
  #11  
Old 01-20-2025, 07:33 AM
biker1 biker1 is offline
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If your tune-up guy is not lubing the clutch, changing the differential fluid, and doing the other inspections then he is not following the maintenance recommendations of the manufacturer. The purpose of rotating the tires is to maximize tread life. If you are having him work on your cart yearly and he is changing the spark plug and filter each year, then he is replacing parts probably well before they are due. Once a year oil changes may be in excess of what the manufacturer recommends depending on how many miles you put on your cart each year.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scbang View Post
I get your points ( re: 3 previous posts ) but other than tire pressure, I am not sure I can do things listed. And, as far as I can recall, the basic tune up guys did just oil, filter and plug without suggesting anything else that needs attention. I guess it's my luck to have running 2014 Yamaha without needing any of those services. So I really need someone who is qualified to thoroughly check my OLD cart before it dies on me. It started to make high pitch squeaky noise when I accelerate, and I have no idea which belt is doing that.

Cheers!

Cheers!

Last edited by biker1; 01-20-2025 at 09:29 PM.
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Old 01-20-2025, 08:51 AM
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Bay Kid Bay Kid is offline
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So, do you have a name I can trust with my cart to be serviced?

Cheers!
I have been using Michael, cart fixer, for years. He checks everything in your driveway, including brake adjustment.
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Old 01-20-2025, 09:25 PM
KennyP KennyP is offline
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Changing an air filter that is clean, changing a spark plug with 100 hours on it, changing a fuel filter that filtered 100 gallons, is not a service. Trust me, we like to hear this as the stuff that should be looked at is neglected. Everything you no don't need gets changed, and the stuff that needs looked at doesn't and then someone wonders why they have a problem. See it every day. Keeps work coming our way. Choose the shop with non trained techs and just change parts. 10 minute service is not a service.
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Old 01-20-2025, 09:40 PM
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I can only speak about the three services I have used. The Villages Golf Cart place is hit or miss depending on the day and technician assigned to work on your cart. Both of the mobile cart service companies I have used are excellent, and I would recommend either based on my experience. Those companies are Todd Casey 352-465-3934 and Cart Fixer 352-433-5411.
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Old 01-20-2025, 11:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scbang View Post
I get your points ( re: 3 previous posts ) but other than tire pressure, I am not sure I can do things listed. And, as far as I can recall, the basic tune up guys did just oil, filter and plug without suggesting anything else that needs attention. I guess it's my luck to have running 2014 Yamaha without needing any of those services. So I really need someone who is qualified to thoroughly check my OLD cart before it dies on me. It started to make high pitch squeaky noise when I accelerate, and I have no idea which belt is doing that.

Cheers!

Cheers!
“ need someone who is qualified to thoroughly check my OLD cart before it dies on me. It started to make high pitch squeaky noise when I accelerate. “

How old is drive belt?

That would probably be drive belt. You check tension on starter generator belt by pushing down on it Middle should feel tight and maybe 1/4 slack. You can probably go on Utube for tutorials

I can’t recommend anyone I do all my maintenance.
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